Chapter 10: The Ritual

9

There are many bronze bells on Kaveripur Hill.

Under the painted eaves, in the octagonal pavilions,

even the training ground has bells hanging from the naga pillars.

The outer disciples take the elixir here.

Second senior brother Kabir held his sword in his arms, standing high, watching the outer disciples file in.

He raised his eyebrows and smiled:

“Our Kaveripur Hill is not like other spiritual hills. We are the gentlest. The elixir only nourishes—it won’t make people explode and die like elsewhere.”

“You’re too cautious.”

I held two brass lotas and also climbed up to the platform, tossing one to him, saying:

“It’s not good to shamelessly waste the Grand Elder’s efforts.”

“Don’t worry, this time you’ll definitely reach the next stage.” Kabir happily took a few gulps of thandai, smiling as he waved and instructed the outer disciples:

“Time’s up, take the vati, guide the energy, cleanse your nadis.”

The clang of the brass lota echoed in the courtyard. Sweat trickled down my spine.

I watched coldly from the side, like an outsider,

silently watching the outer disciples joyfully receive the vati,

then devoutly swallow it.

I stared hard at those vatis.

Hundreds of cases were displayed before me.

Kabir accompanied me in watching for a whole day.

So, I could clearly see how they took root and sprouted.

In the first hour after swallowing, the golden shell melted.

In the second hour, the worms extended slender tentacles,

piercing the stomach and burrowing down to the navel area—

that is, the nabhi.

Next, they absorbed nutrients from the stomach acid.

Until the sixth hour,

the sadhak would suddenly feel a slight stomach pain.

That was because the sticky worm, piercing down from the stomach, taking part of the stomach tissue, floated down to the nabhi like a vesicle—

like a dandelion seed, rooting and settling.

In the seventh hour, the worm fully attached to the nabhi,

spreading its filamentous tentacles, penetrating the nadis, gnawing at flesh and blood, stealing nutrients,

merging with the owner of the body.

After two or three days of gnawing, the human skin would metabolise mortal impurities.

This is… the process of cleansing the nadis.

I watched it all as if in a trance, the images burning themselves into my mind like the tilak on a sadhu’s forehead, never to be erased.